Fulton County is committed to ensuring that all residents have access to the most accurate information available to them.  We recognize that many citizens consider news media outlets as their sole source of information concerning their local government.  With that in mind, Fulton County wants to ensure that what you read, hear and see reflects the most accurate information.  There are times when that may not always be the case. Often times the full story cannot be accurately relayed in a 30-second sound bite or in 250-word article.  FulcoFacts is here to provide you, our residents with the full story.  

Residents can check back here regularly to find out if what they have read online or in a newspaper or what they have watched in the news is accurate.   Here is our meter for guaging the truth:

Here are some news stories currently in circulation that we have reviewed for you:

July 9, 2011:  Lee Says He Will Propose Tax Hike, Marietta Daily Journal

"The highest millage rate in the last 20 years was 12.22 in 1990.

Atlanta’s rate is 22.42. DeKalb’s is set at 16.86. Fulton’s millage rate is 18.44 and Gwinnett’s is 13.25."

This story is somewhat accurate.

Fulton’s general fund millage rate is actually 10.281. Unincorporated Fulton (the Special Service Tax District) millage rate is 8.159. The Special Service Tax District represents 10% of the County’s population or approximately 100, 000 people. It is clear that the two rates were added together, however this is a significant error and misrepresentation of the actual facts. 

For more information on the County's millage rate, please see the Fulton County Budget in Brief.

July 17, 2011:  Fulton may restore yanked arts funding, AJC

"The removal of the county money, done by the Finance Department rather than through a commission vote, raised the specter of funds being lost without arts supporters having any chance to sound off to elected leaders."

This story is completely inaccurate.

As indicated in the January 20, 2010 Recess Meeting Minutes, the Board of Commissioners approved the 2010 General Fund and Special Appropriations Grants Fund Budgets which included the $2.5 million transfer from the Special Appropriations Grants Fund to the General Fund. Only $1.25 million of that amount was appropriated specifically for the Arts Council. Public discussion of this transaction with the Board of Commissioners actually began at the January 6, 2010 regular meeting.  Please see the meeting minutes below.

Meeting Minutes - Zachary Williams
Meeting Minutes - Patrick O'Conner

July 7, 2011:   Restaurant inspectors up the ante in Fulton, AJC

"While the rest of the state converted in 2007, state law allowed Fulton to operate under its own rules because the county had so many restaurants. Fulton decided to adopt the state rules to offer uniformity to restaurants owners with multiple locations across the state."

This story is mostly accurate.

Here are the facts: 

In fact, Fulton County is allowed to have their own rules because there is a population over 800,000.  The Georgia State Code clearly states "This Code section shall apply only to those counties of this state having a population of 800,000 or more according to the United States decennial census of 2000 or any future such census." 

The Code goes on to say, "The governing authority of the county shall be authorized to adopt a system of rules, regulations, and orders covering health and sanitation within the county, and such system of rules, regulations, and orders may be based on recommendations by the county board of health and wellness. Such rules, regulations, and orders when adopted shall be recorded on the minutes of the governing authority of such county, and a certified copy thereof shall be furnished to the department of health and wellness of such county"

UPDATE:  Since this FulcoFact was published, the AJC has printed an error correction on their site:  "Due to a production error, this story was republished. It was originally published in August of 2010."

June 26, 2011:  Aviation museum: boondoggle, inspiration or both?, AJC

Look familiar?  Well it should, this article was originally printed in August 2010 and the AJC has run it again, June 26, 2011 to make it look like new.  In fact, the Marietta Daily Journal ran a copy of the article (http://mdjonline.com/view/full_story/9315818/article-Critics-deride-aviation-museum) on August 29, 2010, crediting the AJC reporter.  The article reports that the Fulton County Commission voted "last week to build the museum financed by federal stimulus bond money, at Fulton County Airport-Charlie Brown Field."  The article even contains a quote from Commissioner Lynne Riley.  One problem, Riley has been off the Commission since her term ended last year and now serves in the Georgia General Assembly.  And the vote from "last week" actually came last year.  Why would the AJC run obviously old information, as new?

Because the date posted for this article gives readers the impression that this article is current and timely, we rate it as completely inaccurate.

June 1, 2011: Fulton bans elephant bullhooks used by circuses, but Atlanta not included, AJC

"The rule only covers unincorporated south Fulton, as that's the area the commission has direct governance over. It will not keep bullhooks out of Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus' shows at Philips Arena in Atlanta."

This story is accurate!

May 25, 2011:   Tax hike more likely in Dekalb, AJC

"A 4-mil increase would boost DeKalb’s rate from 16.86 to 20.28. The county has not raised taxes since 2006, before the recession started, while neighboring Fulton and Gwinnett have hiked their rates in the last few years."

This story is mostly accurate.

Here are the facts:

Fulton County Government’s General Fund millage rate is actually lower now than it was in 2001 [10.81 mills now, compared to 13.34 mills in 2001].  In fact, due to lower assessments and changes in Homestead Exemption, most Fulton County property owners pay less for the Fulton County General Fund portion of their property taxes than they did a few years ago. 

Fulton County’s South Fulton Tax District, which serves only unincorporated South Fulton, did experience a millage rate increase in recent years. However, the unincorporated portion of the County is approximately 10% of the total County.  The South Fulton Tax District still remains one of the lowest municipal taxes in South Fulton, compared to the cities in that area.